The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-10-28
St. Clair VS.. Gibson !
The Breach Of Promise Case
Brought to a Close.
THE JURY RETURN A VERDICT FOR
PLAINTIFF, AWARDING $4,000
DAMAGES.
Defense Note Exceptions and Move
for a New Trial.

Flora Howard St. Clair vs.. Wal
ter Murray Gibson, breach of pro-
mise Of marriage. Damages laid at
$25, 900. Smith & Kinney and A.
G. Smith for plaintiff, Paul Neu-
mann and +. NJ. Hatch for defen-
dant
Tried before the following jury:
II. S. Tregloan, II. Lose, I. W.
Rawlins, VIM. Robson, f. O. White,
7. +. Lansing, A. l.. Smith, A.
Mossman, c. II. Nicoll, j. j. Shaw,
J. J. Locker and Thos. Lindsay.
EVIDENCE OF TIE PLAINTIFF.
The plaintiff was first put on the
stand, and testified as follows: My
name is Flora Howard st. Clair. l
was born in Mormon Island, Sacra-
mento county. My family were
from the South. Have five sisters
and one brother. They are in Sa-
cramento, with the exception of one
sister in San Francisco and one
here. My father was ). II. Cald-
we'll. He died July 10Th of this
year. was brought up in Sacra-
mento county and in the city of Sa-
cramento. Many mother died in
1875. have lived in San Francisco.
l was II years old when first went
to Sacramento. / went TO live
there when | was between 10 and 20
years old. / was 22 when l was
married. My husbands name was
Henry Howard st. Clair. | met
him in San Francisco first, but / was
married in Tacoma, Washington
Territory. l had been canvassing
there. | had gone to San Francisco
with my grandfather. lie met
with adverse circumstances, and l
desired to help him. He was con-
tractor. | made two canvassing
trips before | was married. At first
/ canvassed in my own name.
After marriage we went east to Chi.
cago. My husband was an assayer
and mining expert. We were mar
ried March "a, 1881. We remained
in Chicago two years. My husband
was with me. We then returned
West. My husband stopped at
place en- route and l came to San
Francisco week later. took
house at $40 Hyde street, and had
my brother and sisters living with
me. My husband only stayed in San
Francisco short time with me. He
was going to Mexico. 1t was my
plan to remain in San Francisco
while he went to Mexico. He went
from there to Chicago, and wrote
for me to come. l received a tele-
gram about the time | was going to
him. went to Chicago and found
him sick, and he died week later.
l returned to San Francisco, and
moved to Post street. changed
because he had lived with me at
Hyde street, and | wanted to get
rid of the surroundings. About
seven months after, owing to bust
ness reyerses, / sold out. My sis
tiers went to Sacramento, and soon
after went to Los Angeles. l went
there ,canvassing for my books. l
was working for A. l.. Bancroft &
Co. Never worked for anyone else.
| took the name of Mrs. Florence
Howard for certain reasons. 1t was
customary for people in canvassing
to change their name. Bancroft &
Co. advised me to do so. They
knew my proper name. My hus-
band died July IS, 1888. About
the middle of February, 1884, l went
to Los Angeles. On March II,
1885, / went back to San Francisco.
l was in Los Angeles for quite a
long time. When | returned to San
Francisco | went to Mrs. Van Arms.
| left because she would not board
me, and went to the Baldwin Hotel,
but later to the Grand. Then went
to live with Madam Strauss. From
there we left for Honolulu. We
arrived 10th February, 1886. My
sister came here with me partly for
her health. She came as Alice
Waite. She had never canvassed
before. We stopped at the Ha-
waiian Hotel for three or four days.
From there we went to Mrs. Hoyt's.
| am acquainted with Mr.. Gibson.
/ first went to see him at his resi-
dence to make an appointment when
he could look at my art books, 1t
was before the Legislature. / first
saw Mr.. Gibson about six weeks or
two months after | arrived here. l
was then at Mrs. Hoyt's. ] had an
interview with him at his house.
There was no one else there. The
books l had for sale were very
heavy. Mr.. Gibson made an APP
pointment for two days later. |
kept it. He treated me in very
gentlemanly and courteous man
ner. At the second interview he
told me he was Southerner. At
this interview / took three works to
show him. He did not give a posi-
tive order, bul promised to take
look and patronize me largely. He
seemed to take a great interest in
me; asked me how | was getting
along told me he would assist me.
He told me when l was ready to
make up my list to come to him and
he would take a work. ] called on